By Hosea Omole

Among Nairobi’s public parks, one stands out above the rest despite its small size. Packed with beautiful features and its historical significance, it’s an embodiment of order and style. No wonder the August 7th Memorial Park (Bomb Blast) has been the setting of many a high profile weddings, corporate functions as well as entertainment concerts.

Climbers have been used to screen noise and dust from the street.

Built as a tribute to the innocent victims of the 1998 terror attack, the park sits pretty on the sites where the US Embassy once stood. It’s not only a park but also a monument of strength and hope for the victims’ families and those who survived the terror attack.

The park is also a statement of condemnation against all manner of terrorism. It is a statement that such acts are futile and will never prevail over the virtue of humanity. Among the park’s highlights are:

The fountain

The taijitu shaped fountain is perfectly positioned at the centre of the main plaza. It is the garden’s centerpiece and is the one feature that visitors must interact with while at the park.

The choice of form is quite provocative. The taijitu is a symbol adopted from a Chinese concept called yin-yang, which stands for unity in contrast.

The real meaning of the Yin-yang in this context is everyone’s guess. Perhaps the designer should have found a way of breaking it down to the users. Nevertheless, the fountain serves as a perfect centerpiece creating a serene environment that evokes contemplation and reflection.

The monument

The monument made out of debris for the bomb blast site is a strong statement. It evokes a lot of memories in line with the spirit of the park. However, its position doesn’t really match up. It gives the impression that it was an afterthought. One would expect that a feature of such importance would be accorded a more prominent position in the design. The size of the monument is also not reflective of its significance.

The monument is a strong statement against the forces of terror. Photos: Martin Mukangu/Standard

Planting design

The use of native trees from different parts of the country is commendable. Palm trees, Nandi flames and several Acacia species are conspicuous in the park. They give the garden a sense of belonging. Climbers have also been used quite successfully over the boundary wall to screen off noise, dust and views from the street.

A second look at the planting design reveals that plant colour has been greatly underutilised. The desired contemplative mood and serene environment could have been enhanced greatly by using some appropriate colours in the right places.

Function

Earth mounds have been used extensively to define different spaces within the park. This is a clean break from the traditional use of shrubs and hedges that dot most public parks. Visually impaired visitors have also been taken care of. They can easily get around the park’s main areas without much assistance thanks to the cobblestones on either side of the main path.

Security in the park is very good, as each visitor has to enter and leave the park through a single controlled entrance. Security personnel also patrol the park just in case of trouble, hence one can relax and enjoy the park.

Overall, the Bomb Blast Park really sets the standards in the design of open spaces. Many of us can learn a lot from it.